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Slander seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa), Coastal Path

Diputación de Málaga
Cymodocea (Cymodocea nodosa)

Slander seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa), Coastal Path

MediosMarine
Flowering
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Flowers Fruits
Plant Life > Trees, Bushes and Herbaceous Plants

DESCRIPTION

Cymodocea nodosa, called by some authors as slander seagrass, is the second most important plant in the Mediterranean after Posidoniaoceanicadue to the extent and size of their populations. This is a herbaceous plant made of a stem, roots, leaves and flowers. Stem is a kind of rhizome, buried in the sediment that vertical, not very long rhizomes emerge from. The same as in Posidoniaoceanica, this species' leaves form clusters which vertically emerge from rhizome. They are in the shape of stripes with round tops, up to 60 cm long and 0.4 cm wide, with small (sometimes thorny) teeth on the top. The number of leaves in clusters depends on the season (there are seven in spring and summer, and two in autumn and winter).

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

These plants are colonizers. They are typical of the Mediterranean and Atlantic area, and have a great tolerance to environmental stress. They grow in the infralittoral zone, in sandy or muddy bottoms with weak or no waves. They can form more or less dense meadows, which cover shore lagoons, shallow bays and protected areas, such as coastal area between 6 and 20 m deep, where they can make meadows or live with Posidoniaoceanica.

HOW THEY LIVE

Cymodocea nodosa is a perennial plant with a characteristic life cycle. In spring and summer, this plant is more active, and it reaches the peak of its growth, develops the roots, and most of their leaves (clusters of four to seven leaves), which get to their longest and widest points. In October and March, the plant grows slowly – rhizomes grow only a little and horizontally, internodes are short, no roots are produced by the plant, leaves grow little and they are fewer, making clusters of only two or three leaves. This plant usually flowers at the end of spring, when they bear fruit, which remain on the plant until autumn.

WHERE THEY CAN BE SEEN IN MÁLAGA

Although there are authors which have doubts about the existence of this plant on the coast of Málaga, there are recent studies released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which confirm its occasional presence in the Natural Beauty Spot Maro-Cerro Gordo (Maro) Cliffs, together with Posidoniaoceanicaand Zostera marina, and in the Estepona bay next to the remaining Posidoniaseagrass meadows.

INTERESTING FACTS

Cymodocea nodosa meadow is of a great ecological interest due to a lot of different animals that live in it and because they are placed over the soft bottom, making them stable and able to shelter other phanerogams, such as Posidoniaoceanica, whichcreates dense seagrass beds that look like real sea forests. This species is thought to be indicator of environmental quality, as it is sensitive to organic and industrial pollution.

SIMILAR SPECIES

All marine phanerogams in Andalusia are alike, which is why this species can be easily confused with Posidoniaoceanica or Zostera sp., but Cymodocea does not make such dense seagrass beds like Posidoniaand its leaves are not so big.

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